System and method to provide maintenance for an electrical power generation, transmission and distribution system

ABSTRACT

A method for providing maintenance to an electrical power generation, transmission and distribution system, and an information system and one or more computer program software means for carrying out same. A method to provide maintenance to an electrical power generation facility and/or an electrical power transmission and distribution network system operated by a Utility. Maintenance personnel visit a site to inspect a condition of said apparatus, and examine information from an Information System operated in co-ordination with a Help Desk. The method comprises further steps such as preparing a report of the apparatus with a mobile web camera, making a report comprising a graphic image of the condition of said apparatus, receiving at said Help Desk and Information System the report and graphic image from the inspector/repairman, finding stored information about said apparatus and/or said system in said Information System, comparing said stored information with the report and/or graphic image, the inspector/repairman making in consultation with the Help Desk an assessment of the condition of said apparatus and providing a recommendation such as a repair, a temporary repair or making a plan for a repair at a later time.

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present invention relates to providing maintenance for anelectrical power transmission and distribution network, as well as forpower generation installations. In particular the present invention is adevice and a system, and a method to provide maintenance for all partsof an electrical power system. According to other aspects of theinvention a database means, an inspection means, a Help Desk means, anda web site are also provided.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Electrical power generation, transmission and distribution relieson a number of transmission and distribution networks to transferelectrical power to a series of end users, as well as the generatingequipment itself. Generating equipment includes the devices forgenerating the electrical power, most often an electrical machine suchas for example a synchronous generator. Generating equipment alsoincludes fuel cells, batteries such as used in an Uninterruptible PowerSupply (UPS), solar cells etc. It also includes the devices necessaryfor actually bringing the power to the transmission or distributionnetworks, such as power transformers, instrument transformers, circuitbreakers of various kinds, surge arresters etc., as well as secondarydevices such as transducers, sensors and other devices needed forcontrolling the system. A transmission network can include high voltagelines or cables, both AC and DC, and a diversity of equipment meant toensure the secure and reliable transmission of power, for examplereactors, capacitors, Synchronous Condensers, Static Var Compensators,FACTS components, etc., and secondary devices as referred to above.Whereas transmission refers to the highest level in the hierarchy ofsystems that eventually deliver electrical power to end consumers,distribution networks are systems that are closer to end users,including both high voltage, medium voltage, and low voltage systems,medium voltage being defined as the lower levels of high voltage. Adistribution network on high or medium voltage level will be similar toa transmission network. On the lowest levels of distribution, thevoltage is typically transformed from medium voltage to low voltage,which is the level that ordinary consumers see. Such systems typicallyinclude medium voltage, low voltage and feeder sections with a diversityof switching equipment, substations, transformers, breakers, fuses,measuring and other electrical equipment situated in a diversity oflocations, buildings and yards. This includes distribution equipment tomore or less specialised equipment for industrial and commercialconsumers, factories etc., as well as ordinary household consumers.

[0003] The background of this invention is in electrical powertransmission and distribution networks, and in electrical powergeneration. The invention specifically also relates to generation anddistribution functions of plants including smaller and less traditionalgeneration means such as micro turbines, wind farms, Combined Heat andPower plants (CHP) and other often privately owned generators thatsupply power to the network in a distributed fashion.

[0004] Operations and operational service criteria may be classified notonly by type of consumer, large or small for example. Factors oflocation such as rural, urban or city; criticality of supply, that is,supply for a hospital versus supply for a warehouse contribute to adiverse range of requirements for delivery of electrical power. Theoperation of such transmission and distribution networks demands a broaddiversity of know how, organisation, maintenance, financing, developmentor expansion, spare parts, access to new equipment and technicallyskilled labour.

[0005] By tradition, and under conditions of a regulated market withstate or community owned monopolies, a utility company is a company thatoperates and usually owns generating and/or transmission/distributionequipment. The utility company carries out a range of functionsincluding maintenance of a network in accord with both present andfuture requirements. This is typically based on the utilities ownbusiness plan and carried out using primarily in-house engineering staffand other specialist professionals, supplemented as needed by outsidesub-contractors and/or consultants to perform specific maintenance ormore often installation tasks. As a result of a specific plan formaintenance for the network, maintenance work is carried out to ensure aplanned level of service availability for the network and it's severalpower generation, distribution and power supply parts. In practiceassets are owned and maintenance staff employed or allocated as or whenneeded to execute a maintenance plan designed to meet a present orforecast demand for electrical power.

[0006] However under de-regulation market conditions have led to arefocussing of priorities as regards the requirement for maintenance ofa transmission and distribution network to better meet presentrequirements and future requirements. First, maintenance is expected tobe carried out under a more cost effective and predictable cost regime.Second, emphasis on meeting stringent power levels, power availabilityand power quality requirements set by regulatory authorities, togetherwith a generally reduced investment in installed plant throughout theindustry, demands maintenance that shall provide solutions that complywith both stringent technical and financial demands. One such approachis called RCM—Reliability Centred Maintenance.

[0007] Third, the increased focus on distributed, environmentallyfriendly generation, is leading to growing numbers of smaller andunconventional power plants such as micro turbines, Combined Heat andPower (CHP) plants, wind farms, tidal water or ocean wave plants, solarcell plants, and Fuel Cell plants, being connected to power grids. Atthe same time, components such as power lines and transformers areincreasingly being operated closer to their physical, often thermal,limits. This makes the power system itself, and its operation andmaintenance, more complex. For example, operating power lines closer totheir thermal limits at the same time as new asynchronous wind parks areconnected to the grid destabilises the power system, and increases therisk of error. Another example is that the connection of a large numberof small, often single phase, generators makes it more difficult tocarry out network control functions such as balancing loads in parts ofthe network, thereby also increasing the risk of error.

[0008] Fourthly under de-regulated market conditions the owner oroperator of a power distribution network may not be a traditionalutility company with experience of running and maintaining suchnetworks. For such a new owner/operator the provision of maintenance inan effective and economic way without the benefit of access to internalknow-how may be difficult.

[0009] Thus, utilities and operators are faced with the challenge ofdelivering high quality, reliable electric power at competitive rates totheir customers using limited manpower and resources. This calls fordevices, systems and methods that can provide maintenance of a powersystem in a cost-effective and reliable way.

[0010] A document available from enervista.com (Trade Mark) describes anapproach to substation management for municipal utilities and ruralco-operatives that includes the use of Internet-technology. A system isdescribed with modules with names such as eSCADA and eEXPERT. With aneSCADA module, substations are equipped with a Universal Relay providedby General Electric (GE), and monitored via a Web-interface. When anerror in the system occurs, an alarm and error message appears in aWeb-browser included in eSCADA, and certain information on the fault isavailable. Associated with the fault information is the eEXPERT module,which is a knowledge base with public documents and internet links towebsites of standards, application papers, notes and diagnosis guides,as well as proprietary procedures and documents. One advantage is statedto be a significant speed-up of outage restoration by less-experiencedstaff. It is also mentioned that if a fault or early warning is detectedby a regional operator, an engineer could be contacted to accesssettings, events at time of trip etc to assist in recommending suitablecorrective actions. It also is described that a repair crew, prior toheading out, can get exact details of what equipment has failed, whereit is, and the nature of the problem. It is also mentioned that the crewcan call up and print stored documents such as network configuration,wiring diagrams and maintenance procedures.

[0011] The advantage of the system described seems to be limited to thatthe Utility itself has a presumably cheaper software system forsubstation management, cheaper because of the utilisation of theubiquitous Internet-technology instead of expensive proprietary SCADAsoftware and custom programming. However in a context of providingcost-effective maintenance to ensure a reliable supply of high qualityelectrical power the description is limited in that it only addressesresponse to power outages of the sort caused by weather damage toequipment. For example, the description does not describe howless-experienced staff may be enabled to carry out repair or maintenancetasks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is an object of the invention to provide a system and methodfor a third party to provide maintenance service for an electrical powergeneration, transmission and distribution system to a Utility or otheroperator of a power system.

[0013] This and other objects are fulfilled by the present inventionaccording to a method described in claim 1 and a system described inclaim 19. Advantageous embodiments are described in sub-claims to theabove independent claims. In addition, further and advantageous aspectsof the invention are described as a computer program product in claim 32and a computer data signal in claims 40 and 41.

[0014] The principal advantage of the invention is that maintenanceservice for a transmission and distribution network and power plants maybe carried out to assure quality and continuity of supply in a moreeffective and cost effective way. In addition, the invention reduces theneed for the Utility to employ, train and maintain a large staff of ownMaintenance and Engineering experts.

[0015] Further, these experts may instead be provided by a third partycompany according to aspects of the invention, which company may haveseveral customers, making the utilization of such personnel much better,both in terms of building up and maintaining their competence, and interms of utilizing their time more efficiently.

[0016] Another advantage of the invention is that updated component andsystem documentation is available 24/7 by means of an embodiment of theinvention, to any Internet-enabled device operated by an registereduser. Said documentation during use of the method and system accordingto an embodiment of the invention also comprises up to date reports onthe maintenance status of the power network, reports of repairs carriedout and/or reports of maintenance planned to rectify, amongst others,reported faults.

[0017] A further object is to provide, according to other aspects of theinvention, a web site and computer software or computer program meansfor carrying out the methods of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] A more complete understanding of the system and apparatus of thepresent invention may be had by reference to the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

[0019]FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an Information System for apower generation, distribution and transmission system according to anembodiment of the invention

[0020]FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram to provide maintenance servicesto a power generation, distribution and transmission system, accordingto an embodiment of the invention.

[0021]FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for a method to provide plannedmaintenance according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0022]FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for a method to provide maintenance for areported fault according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0023]FIG. 1 shows a Utility 1, a Service Provider company 2, a PowerTransmission & Distribution (T&D) System Information System 3, a HelpDesk 4 provided by the Service Provider company 2, an inspector 5 fromthe Utility, with an Online Inspection Kit 6. A component 10 with afault is shown schematically.

[0024]FIG. 2 shows the Power System Information System 3, and the HelpDesk 4, the Inspector 5, a skilled Help Desk engineer 8, a ServiceProvider (SP) company spare parts warehouse 12, a vehicle 14 and abuilding 13. Connections between all of these people and/or functions tothe Internet 11 are indicated by means of arrows, such as the doubleended arrow signifying two-way communication between Inspector 5 andHelp Desk engineer 8.

[0025] The Service Provider Company 2 operates and maintains the PowerSystem Information System 3 and provides maintenance services for aUtility 1. The Utility may be a traditional utility company or any otheroperator or owner of a whole or part of an electrical power generation,transmission and distribution network. The Utility has access to allinformation about it's power network in the Information System viaWeb-technology, and may also have the possiblity to update thatinformation, depending on an agreement with the Service ProviderCompany. The system according to the invention includes:

[0026] The Help Desk 4 provided by the Service Provider Company, alwaysavailable and manned by highly skilled technical expertise, such as askilled Help Desk engineer 8.

[0027] An Online Inspection Kit (OIK) 6 provided to the utility by theService Provider Company as part of a service agreement.

[0028] The OIK 6 preferably includes a web camera and an operatorcomputer terminal, each effectively equipped with a communication linkto the Power T & D System Information System 3. At the same time, theHelp Desk has access to all information retrieved by the OIK. This isenabled using Web-technology.

[0029] The Power System Information System 3, contains information aboutthe power distribution network and equipment, stored in such forms as:

[0030] Computer aided design (CAD) documents,

[0031] Schematic electrical drawings, other schematics,

[0032] scanned paper documents,

[0033] scanned drawings,

[0034] text documents,

[0035] multimedia documents or files containing information stored asany one or combination of text, video clips, pictures and sounds. Manyof the stored files contain active links, such as embedded HTML, cHTMLor XML links to other parts of the same documentation or to otherdocuments containing information asociated with a subject matter. Thisfacilitates finding related or more detailed information about acomponent, network or part thereof.

[0036] In general when the utility discovers there is something wrongwith a component, such as component 10, an Inspector 5 is sent out tothe site where the fault has been located. The inspector, orinspector/repairman, uses the OIK to make an inspection and communicateswith the Help Desk. With the help of one or more pictures provided bythe OIK, the Help Desk is provided with an oportunity to examine thesame indications, symptoms or conditions as the inspector. Both haveaccess to the Power System Information System, according to anotheraspect of the invention, where detailed information about the componentand related parts of the Power T&D network the component is a part ofare stored. In this interaction between Inspector and Help Desk, theHelp Desk comes up with a solution to the problem, and takes properaction. If the problem can be solved immediately, the Help Desk guidesthe inspector on site in the repair and/or re-connection or re-bootingof the component. If not, the Help Desk identifies spare parts needed,repairs or other actions that must be taken. The Help Desk may beconnected directly to the Service Provider Company's Spare Part SystemDatabase 12 and Engineering Staff (also by the use of Web-technology),and use these resources to specify a schedule for re-engineering of thecomponent, with a guaranteed response time, included in the warranty, tothe utility. Purchases and Work Orders are generated to carry out theplanned repair, preferably generated and transmitted using webtechnology. Depending on the complexity of the situation, the actualplanning may take place off-line, but when it is done, the steps to betaken, the work orders, purchase orders and associated warranty etc. aredocumented in the Information System.

[0037]FIG. 3 shows the steps of a method according to an embodiment ofthe invention. It comprises a log-in step 100 a, a visit to a site 102a, a status check on site 103, a status decision step 104. A Yesdecision following 104 leads to an electronic inspection report step109. Decision step 110, all stations checked, may follow step 109, andlog-out step 112 may follow a Yes decision to decision step 110.

[0038] A No decision following status decision step 104 leads to aninspection step 105 in which the inspection result including pictureinformation is communicated with the Help Desk. This leads to a decisionstep 106 a, is immediate repair possible. A Yes decision to step 106 aleads to a repair step 108 a, carried out by the Inspector with helpfrom Help Desk. A No decision following decision step 106 a results instep 107 a in which the Inspector and the Help Desk make a plan forrepair. A planned repair logged in the information system will almostalways include a guaranty dependent on the terms of the serviceagreement.

[0039]FIG. 3 shows an example for an exemplary example of standardplanned maintenance, periodic maintenance. This could be periodicmaintenance of a (primary or secondary) distribution substation,including pad mounted transformers, and/or pole mounted transformers (egin USA). The utility has a maintenance and inspection plan fordistribution substations stored in the Power T&D System InformationSystem. This plan may have been developed by Service Provider company 2,or Utility itself 1, it depends on the Utility's level of outsourcing.

[0040] Maintenance personell, such as the inspector 5, either employedby Utility or the Service Provider company, drives out to thedistribution substation, and checks status on various substationcomponents according to the plan, step 103 of FIG. 3. For example, theinspector may check for:

[0041] oil-leaks from a transformer,

[0042] oil-level in a transformer,

[0043] are insulators on the transformer dirty?

[0044] is the substation in general tidy and clean?

[0045] are there any unusual sounds?

[0046] are all meters working properly, do they show sensible values?

[0047] If no serious error is found, he then fills in a form so as toreport the substation status. Traditionally this form would be a pieceof paper, that has to be returned to the Utility, and at return thedocument would have to be checked in, and any minor anomalies reportedto a responsible engineer. According to an aspect of the invention theform is electronic and is automatically registered in InformationSystem, at step 109 of FIG. 3. It is also automatically registered thatthe inspection has taken place when the document is checked in. Includedin the documentation may be one or more digital photos of the stationand components taken by a web camera in the OIK.

[0048] The inspector then travels to the next station he is supposed tovisit within the periodic maintenance schedule, or else back to hisoffice or home, if he is finished.

[0049] If an error is found during a planned inspection.

[0050] The inspector discovers there is something wrong, for examplethere may be loud noise from the transformer indicating a possiblefailure in a winding, or a dead animal is lying on a busbar, causing arisk of a short-circuit. According to an another aspect of theinvention, the inspector contacts the Help Desk while he is on-site. Heuses the OIK, including a web-camera 6, a mobile video camera with aconnection to the Internet 11, optionally together with audio equipment,to show aspects or symptoms of the error to the Help Desk. The Help Deskand the inspector make an assessment of

[0051] how serious the error is,

[0052] should the error immediately be considered serious and steps forserious errors be taken,

[0053] should an attempt at a permanent local fix be made,

[0054] should an attempt at a temporary local fix be made,

[0055] If they consider the error to be serious, they may decide todisconnect the transformer to avoid an even more serious error conditionto arise. The helpdesk will first find out if any of the customersconnected to this transformer are critical before making a disconnectiondecision. In any case, the Help Desk will make an assessment of thesituation, and find a solution which may include a plan for repair orordering of spare parts.

[0056] Another example of a planned maintenance service that may becarried out is known as condition based maintenance. According to agreedspecifications, the inspector/repairman makes observations andmeasurements during an inspection. If the inspector/repairman observesthat, for example, water level in a transformer oil is above a certainlimit, or according to meter readings etc an accumulated fault currentfor a feeder is above certain limit, etc, then the inspector repairmanincludes that in a report. Dependent on the nature of the condition,maintenance is scheduled for the condition observed either for a plannedfuture maintenace visit or for a specific visit to rectify a specificcondition.

[0057]FIG. 4 shows an example for an exemplary example of a maintenanceschedule for a reported fault.

EXAMPLE 2

[0058] An instrument transformer in a substation has exploded due, forexample, to an internal earth fault. As a consequence, a cubicle hasbeen destroyed, and a feeder has lost its current. The system controlcentre has received a fault indication: feeder n has lost its current.

[0059]FIG. 4 shows the steps of an error message received 99 at autility control centre, transmitting the error 100 b to the Help Desk, alog-in in 102 b by an inspector, a site visit 103 b by inspector, and aninspection 105 b with the OIK. A decision step 106 b concerning apossible immediate or temporary repair is followed either by a Yesleading to step 108 b followed by documentation of the temporary repairin the Power T&D System Information System database or, if No followingstep 106 b, followed by Help Desk and the Inspector making a plan 107 bfor a repair. A planned repair will normally include a warranty and theplan is documented at step 107 c in the Power T&D System InformationSystem. At 108 c the repair is subsequently carried out and documentedin the Power T&D System Information System, and adequate information isrouted to the Customer Information System to keep customers properlyinformed.

[0060] Purchase orders for the spare parts or equipment may be prepared,and sent using web technology purchase orders to a predeterminedsupplier such as Service Provider company Spare Parts warehouse 12. Workorders for the work may be prepared and sent to a department of thepredetermined service provider, normally the Service Provider company,using web technology. At 108 b the repair is subsequently carried outand documented in the Power T&D System Information System.

[0061] The specification sent to the Service Provider company SpareParts warehouse 12, or routed alternatively direct to another seller andor manufacturer to obtain a replacement apparatus or part as a result ofa manual or automatic action to purchase is preferably in the form of apurchase order. The most preferred type of order is a purchase order asan open standard document, using for example a type of XML file.Preferably the purchase order also conforms to one or more currentstandards for electronic documents such as EDIFACT or ASC X12and/or tosimilar standards eg SWIFT; or other protocols such as Document ObjectModel (DOM), Microsoft's (Trade Mark) MSXML and a standard called XHTML1.0 provided by World Wide Web Committee (W3C). The purchase order is inthe form of an electronic document that otherwise corresponds to atraditional EDI type 850 electronic purchase order document. As such,the file transmitted containing the purchase order comprises necessarydetails such as any of:

[0062] identification of document type

[0063] authorization details,

[0064] security details,

[0065] contact details,

[0066] acknowledgement request details,

[0067] cancellation details

[0068] contract references for seller, manufacturer,

[0069] ordered item identification,

[0070] UPC reference,

[0071] delivery details, carrier and options.

[0072] The same error message 99 is also sent to the Help Desk in anembodiment of the present invention. An inspector is sent out to thesubstation with full inspection kit OIK, including a portable orwearable computer, web-camera, audio equipment. The damage is assessedby the inspector and the Help Desk in co-operation using reportscollected with the inspection kit and communicated to the Help Desk. Inthis example they find out that a serious damage has occurred, andrepair is needed. By using the on-line documentation they find out

[0073] how/if re-coupling can be made to restore current to the feederthat has been damaged, or

[0074] are there any other temporary measures such as disconnection ofone phase that can be made there and then.

[0075] In any case, the Help Desk makes a plan for repair, step 107 b,with a warranty to the Utility, orders components etc., in step 107 c,and stores that plan in the Information System.

EXAMPLE 3

[0076] The same error indication as Example 3 above (loss of current onfeeder n). However in this example, the inspector and the Help Desk findthat this was due to an error in a secondary measuring device (atransducer), and that the main (power) circuit is intact. The Help Deskfinds the documentation about the transducer in the Information System,and examines the documentation online together with the inspector at thesite. They may decide to try a repair of the transducer there and then,and the Help Desk guides the inspector in the process with reference toinformation contained in the transducer documentation in the PowerSystem Information System.

[0077] The service agreement (named above in the description of FIG. 2)between the Utility and the Service Provider company comprises acontract for the provision of maintenance by the Service Providercompany to the Utility. The service agreement will typically comprise 24hr. access to:

[0078] the Help Desk

[0079] the Information System and may further comprise items such as:

[0080] standard spare parts per type of location/equipment,

[0081] technicians certified to a specified grade,

[0082] computer programs to simulate or model certain error conditions,

[0083] computer programs to simulate or model conditions for electricalloads on certain equipment or parts of a power network.

[0084] The Service Agreement may include one or more measures and limitsfor power quality supply and reliability related to identified aspectsof maintenance quality. The measures for maintenance quality willinclude any of the following parameters:

[0085] delivery time for standard maintenance operations,

[0086] availability (uptime) of a network equipment or a service,

[0087] maintaining expected service life standards for equipment,

[0088] maintenance cost reduction.

[0089] Planned maintenance work will normally include a guaranty of atype described in the service agreement for a stipulated period of timeaccording to the conditions laid down in the service agreement followingthe planned repair. For example, standards regarding expected servicelife or average service life for equipment may be included in theagreement to guide decisions about relative cost of maintenance or amaintenance measure versus expected shortening of equipment life if themaintenance measure is not carried out.

[0090] In another embodiment of the invention, the Help Desk isimplemented as a mobile unit. For example in certain regions, it may bemore practical to implement the Help Desk in a more flexible way than asfor example in a permanent building with a fixed number of staff. TheHelp Desk is then not necessarily associated with a fixed location withpermanent set-up, but may for example also be implemented as one or morean engineers on duty with mobile communication means and Internetaccess. In another embodiment of the invention a substantial part of theHelp Desk operations may be carried out by computer software. Thus anInspector contacting the Help Desk may, depending on the urgency andimportance of the inquiry, interact with an automated guide computerprogram or expert system type of software and gather and/or exchangeinformation without making direct contact with a Help Desk engineer, atleast not at first.

[0091] In another embodiment of the invention, the Information Systemcomprises one or more computer programs for modeling and/or simulatingthe power system under various load conditions. Ready-made changeablemodels of relevant parts of the power system are available, and theInspector and Help Desk can simulate the power system to check theeffect of various actions before actually performing them. Typically,they could check the effect of

[0092] disconnecting lines,

[0093] disconnection (complete or partial) of loads,

[0094] reconfiguring the power network by for example disconnecting oneswitch and connecting another,

[0095] operation of an equipment such as a transformer at reduced load

[0096] operation of an equipment such as a transformer at increasedload, and evaluate aspects such as the consequences for consumers andreduction of life-time (service life or average service life) forcomponents.

[0097] In another embodiment of the invention a substation or otherlocation may be equipped with a built-in video camera connected as aweb-cam with an Internet connection. This may be used for scheduledperiodic checks, and/or in combination with a site visit by an Inspectorto provide added graphic information. For specific locations the web-cammay be equipped with a signal processor for handling the visual and/orinfra red elements visible spectrum of the camera signal which signalprocessor:

[0098] samples the picture signal produced by the web-cam,

[0099] analyses the signal using a trained artificial neural networksystem,

[0100] determines if a change in visual light spectrum light intensityrepresents predetermined event such as an arc, flashover or explosion,

[0101] determines if a change in light intensity in the infra-red orother part of the light spectrum represents unexpected temperaturechange such as overheating or a fire,

[0102] determines if a change in light intensity represents the entry ofa person or an animal into the location scanned,

[0103] sends a signal to the Help Desk upon detection of any of an arc,flashover, explosion, temperature rise, entry of person, animal, orother predetermined event, which signal is examined and thenautomatically logged for recording and further analysis purposes.

[0104] During a maintenance period, an analysis of a fixed camera signalmay optionally be selected, for example by the Help Desk, to monitorfor:

[0105] presence of a person in a prohibited area while maintenance isbeing carried out.

[0106] It is to be understood that any of the methods described may becarried out by one or more computer programs, or computer programproducts, or by computer software containing a computer program codeelement or computer code means or software code portions for enabling acomputer or a processor to implement one or more of a series ofinstructions in order to carry out any of the methods described in thisdescription. Such computer program products are correspondinglycomprised in an information system and/or a web site according to theinvention.

[0107] It is also noted that while the above describes exemplifyingembodiments of the invention, there are several variations andmodifications which may be made to the disclosed solution withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention as defined in theappended claims.

1. A method to provide maintenance to an electrical power generationfacility and/or an electrical power transmission and distributionnetwork system and apparatus connected to said system, operated by aUtility, whereby maintenance personnel visit a site where a saidapparatus is located to inspect a condition of said apparatus, andexamine information from an information system, wherein said methodcomprises the further steps of: having the inspector/repairman examinesaid apparatus with an inspection means and prepare a report comprisingat least one graphic image of the condition of said apparatus, receivingat said help desk and Information System the report and graphic imagefrom the inspector/repairman, finding stored information about saidapparatus and/or said system in said Information System, comparing saidstored information with the report and/or graphic image, making anassessment of the condition of said apparatus and providing arecommendation for a maintenance measure such as a repair.
 2. A methodaccording to claim 1, comprising a step of making a decision for theinspector/repairman to carry out a repair in consultation with the HelpDesk.
 3. A method according to claim 1, comprising a step of that theinspector/repairman carries out a temporary repair in consultation withthe Help Desk.
 4. A method according to claim 1, comprising a step ofthat the repair carried out is documented by inspector/repairman inconsultation with the Help Desk and a report of that repair is stored inthe Information System.
 5. A method according to claim 1, comprising astep of that the inspector/repairman in consultation with the Help Deskmakes a plan to repair a fault at a later time.
 6. A method according toclaim 1, comprising a step of that the inspector/repairman inconsultation with the Help Desk documents the plan to repair a fault ata later time in full.
 7. A method according to claim 1, comprising astep of that the plan to repair a fault at a later time comprises aguaranty.
 8. A method according to claim 1, comprising a step of takingaction to place purchase and/or procurement orders for spare parts andor new equipment.
 9. A method according to claim 1, comprising a stop oftaking action to place one or more work orders to procure and schedulework according to a plan for repair to an equipment or to a part of thepower network.
 10. A method according to claim 1, comprising thatinformation about a condition of an equipment or part of the powernetwork is transmitted at least in part over the Internet.
 11. A methodaccording to claim 1, comprising that the Help Desk is implemented asone or more engineers with mobile communications, mobile computers, andmobile access to data communication networks including the Internet. 12.A method according to claim 1, is that the Help Desk is implementedfurther comprising one or more computer programs of an expert systemtype configured so as to enable an inspector/repairman to inputinformation concerning an equipment and retrieve further technicalinformation about maintenance of the equipment.
 13. A method accordingto claim 1, comprising the further steps of selecting a possible actionfor a repair of temporary measure such as switching in or out a load,inputting technical details such as an electrical load and/or anelectrical configuration to one or more computer programs for modellingand/or simulating individual equipment and/or a part of a power networkaccording to the possible repair or temporary measure, examining themodelling result and appraising the merits of the possible repair ortemporary measure.
 14. A method according to claim 13, comprising thefurther steps of modelling an effect of any of; disconnecting lines,disconnection of a complete or partial of load, reconfiguring the powernetwork by for example disconnecting one switch and connecting another,operation of an equipment such as a transformer at reduced load,operation of an equipment such as a transformer at increased load.
 15. Amethod according to claim 13, comprising the further step of evaluatinga possible result of a maintenance action such as: a consequence forelectrical power consumers, and a reduction of life-time (service lifeor average service life) of a component.
 16. A method according to claim1, comprising the step of receiving from the Utility notice of acondition of an equipment or part of the power network.
 17. A methodaccording to claim 1, comprising the step of receiving from the powernetwork information reporting a condition of an equipment or part of thepower network.
 18. A method according to claim 17, comprising the stepof receiving from the power network information reporting a condition ofan equipment or part of the power network dependent on an analysis of asignal from a camera at a site or other location of the power network.19. A power system information system to provide maintenance for anelectrical power generation, transmission and distribution system andapparatus connected to said power system, said Information Systemcomprising one or more databases, and communication links to maintenancepersonnel located elsewhere, wherein said information system comprises:an engineering/service Help Desk, mobile inspection means to make agraphic image for an inspection report, communication means at the HelpDesk to receive a inspection report comprising a graphic image, displaymeans at the Help desk to examine the report and/or the graphic image,mobile terminal, computer and display mans to retrieve information fromthe one or more databases, computer and display means to compare thegraphic image and/or inspection report with retrieved information.
 20. Apower system information system according to claim 19, in which theinspection means comprises a web camera arranged to send pictures in aformat such as TCP/IP suitable for transmission over a network such asthe Internet.
 21. A power system information system according to claim19, which comprises a communication means enabling two-way voicecommunication between an inspector at a site and the Help Desk.
 22. Apower system information system according to claim 19, which comprisesstorage means to document details of a decision to provide maintenanceservice.
 23. A power system information system according to claim 19,which comprises reporting and storage means to document details of aplan to provide maintenance service at a later time.
 24. A power systeminformation system according to claim 23, which comprises ordering andscheduling means to issue purchase orders and work orders in respect ofthe plan to provide maintenance service at a later time.
 25. A powersystem information system according to claim 19, which comprisescomputer program and/or software means to match a identified apparatusto details of the apparatus stored as files in a database of the system,the files comprising any of text, graphic, interactive multimedia, asound recording.
 26. A power system information system according toclaim 19, which comprises software means to log-on a registered oridentified representative of the Utility to examine operations of thepower system information database.
 27. A power system information systemaccording to claim 19, which comprises software means to log-on aregistered or identified representative of the Utility to examineoperations of the engineering Help Desk in real time.
 28. A power systeminformation system according to claim 19, which comprises computerprogram and/or software means to model and or simulate an effect on thepower system of any of the following: a disconnection; a partialdisconnection; a reconfiguring or switching in of one part and switchingout of another part; an increased load on an equipment; a reduced loadon an equipment.
 29. Use of a system according to claims 19-28 toprovide a condition monitoring system to monitor the condition of alocation for an equipment of a power generation, transmission anddistribution system.
 30. Use of a system according to claims 19-28 toprovide a maintenance service to a power generation, transmission anddistribution system.
 31. Use of a system according to claims 19-28 toprovide maintenance service for a power generation, transmission anddistribution system associated with an type of industrial plant asdiverse as plants such as an airport, a hospital, a paper mill, apetroleum refinery or a vehicle assembly plant.
 32. A computer programproduct comprising computer code means or software code portions to makea computer or a processor operate in Information System comprising oneor more databases and a Help Desk to provide maintenance for anelectrical power generation, transmission and distribution system andapparatus connected to said power system, wherein said computer orprocessor is made to carry out actions to provide maintenance for saidpower system including to: receive a data input representing at leastone maintenance report, match the data input to an apparatus connectedto a Power System network with information stored in a database, receivea second input documenting a maintenance repair action, link the seconddocumented repair action to the apparatus and network, store thedocumented repair action.
 33. A computer program product according toclaim 32, which comprises software means for carrying out a furtheraction to: update status reports for the apparatus and network.
 34. Acomputer program product according to claim 32, which comprises softwaremeans for carrying out a further action to: send a signal in the form ofa purchase order comprising details for replacement apparatus of spareparts to a parts supplier.
 35. A computer program product according toclaim 32, which comprises software means for carrying out a furtheraction to: send a signal comprising details for work orders dependent onthe documented repair action to a maintenance Service Provider company(3).
 36. The computer program code element of claim 32, which comprisescomputer code means or software code portions including executable partsformed written as one or more object oriented programs and accessibleand implementable over a network such as the Internet.
 37. A computerprogram contained in a computer readable medium, comprising computerprogram code means to make a computer or processor carry out the stepsaccording to any of claims 1-18 or claims 32-36.
 38. A web sitecomprising means for providing access to a database of a Power SystemInformation System, which database includes information about anelectrical power generation, transmission and distribution system andapparatus connected to said power system, which web site comprisescomputer program means interoperable with means such as HTML, cHTML,XHMTL or XML compatible code wherein in said web site includes computerprogram means for executing actions to carry out any of the methods ofclaims 1-18.
 39. A web site according to claim 38, further comprisingsoftware means for executing actions to issue or receive electronicdocument orders for apparatus such as spare parts which documentsconform to one or more standards for electronic document interchange EDIsuch as EDIFACT, ASC X12, or other standards such as XHTML 1.0, DOMlevel 3, SWIFT EDI.
 40. A first computer data signal embodied forcommunication in a computerised system, the communication beingassociated with maintenance of an apparatus of a system for electricalpower generation, transmission and distribution, wherein that the firstdata signal: is transmitted from a location of said electrical powergeneration, transmission and distribution system to an informationsystem for said electrical power generation, transmission anddistribution system and the first data signal comprises a graphic imagerepresenting a condition of said apparatus for maintenance purposes. 41.A second computer data signal embodied for communication in acomputerized system, the communication being associated with maintenanceof an apparatus of a system for electrical power generation,transmission and distribution, wherein that the second data signal: istransmitted from an information system for said electrical powergeneration, transmission and distribution system to a maintenanceprovider company and comprises information associated with a maintenancespecification of said apparatus in the information system regarding aplan to provide maintenance for said apparatus.
 42. A computer datasignal as claimed in claim 41, wherein that it is sent to a maintenanceprovider company and comprises information associated with a maintenancespecification of said apparatus a request to purchase spare parts and/orreplacement equipment for said apparatus.
 43. A computer data signal asclaimed in claim 41, wherein that the information in said data signalcomprises at least one part identifying said apparatus and one partidentifying sender of the purchase request.
 44. A computer data signalas claimed in claim 41, wherein that the computer data signal isgenerated by an automatic maintenance providing procedure of theinformation system.
 45. A computer data signal as claimed in claim 41,wherein that the computerized system is adapted to create and send apurchase order to purchase, based on the computer data signal, spareparts and/or replacement equipment.